Cris Martinez was born and raised in Madrid, Spain, and is now based in the Basque Country, between Biarritz and San Sebastián, having also lived in Paris. While living in Paris, she discovered yoga as an escape from the stress of city life. From the very beginning, she felt that a bigger path, beyond what she had expected, was opening before her.

Although trained academically in tourism and having built her career with the Four Seasons Hotels group, yoga became a parallel journey that deeply resonated with her. She began her formal training in 2020 with the 200-hour Foundational Yoga Training in Hatha Vinyasa at Zentro Urban Yoga (ZUY) Madrid, guided by Sarah Florence and Lorena Coutino. In 2021 she completed 100 hours in Philosophy & Ethics at ZUY with Lorena Coutino and Laia Villegas, followed by 100 hours in Teaching Methodology and Advanced Practice in 2022 with Candida Vivalda and Sarah Florence.

Her dedication to Jivamukti Yoga grew over the years with the almost daily practice with Candida in Madrid, culminating in the 75-hour Jivamukti Teacher Training in Madrid in 2025 with Rebeca Recatero and Candida Vivalda, and her 300-hour Jivamukti Teacher Training in India with Yogeswari Azahar and Anna Lunegova the same year.

Cris teaches in Spanish, French, and English. Her classes are always inspired by the guidance of her mentors and her own journey of growth both on and off the mat. She is deeply grateful for the teachings she has received from her teachers and holds a strong belief in the power of community and all that yoga can contribute to and bring to those around her. Her teaching integrates dynamic vinyasa flows with pranayama, meditation and mantra, inviting students to connect body, mind, and heart while cultivating presence, compassion, and self-exploration.